Living in Park Homes

[alm1995]

Hi
Does anybody have any experience of Park Homes with permenant occupancy, such as buying them, living in them etc etc.
Glad you did? wish you hadn't?

[sidthelamp]

large static caravans ? cold in the winter without heating, you need at least background heat 24/7 in the winter,fitted woodburner does the trick, very hot in the summer, damp/mold can be a problem on aliminum fittings, water supply can freeze in winter if not insulated,gravel/concrete path to door is a must, the biggiest drawback to mobile homes is everyone knows when your bonking!

[Rednosty]

Lived 6 months in one. Agree with the heating that's always a problem Rented one and never felt secure as the door was never fitting properly.

[shezz]

Check it out

I know an elderly couple who sold there house to move into a static home, it is very nice on a caravan site, they done it because the husband has problems and is unable to walk very far,

They checked it out and was told that they were suppose to leave it for 2/3 months out of the year, all to do with council tax or summit not sure, but was told that no one does really leave, so after weighin it up they went for it


They were told wrong and now they have to leave there home for 2/3 months out of the year sure they can rent out another place on the site at a cost,or even rent out there place(although they wont do that) . if it was the summer I dont think they would mind, but they have to get out over the winter months


is a lovely place and very cheap to run tho

[alm1995]

Thanks for responses

Yes shezz there seems to be a difference in holiday, only allowed to live in for 9 to 11 months of the year, and permenant residence.
I have come across these while looking to downsize and had never seen them before. They do look very cosy and am assured by sales person they are popular and they can't get enough of them

Seems only leasehold and you have to pay ground rent.

[Rednosty]

Sometime ago (Not sure if the law has changed) but there used to be a major problem with Selling these (If you purchased a permanent one) Something to do with selling and x £ went to the people who you rent the ground from? Your talking £1000's not pennies. (i may be wrong JUST READ THE SMALL PRINT!!)

[knitandpurl]

Hi there,
I used to work for a Caravan company, and I would not recommend that you give up your home to move onto a park. You are at the park owners mercy. They can put up park fees anually, decide how long your park season will be, and also make you upgrade your van every 10 years. I have seen so many people ripped off my consience made me give up the job. Also they advertise free park fees for the 1st year but they incorporate that into the price of your van so you are not saving. With park homes you pay for the home and the plot and then they bill you anually for fees, your water rates and council tax are paid separately on most parks, no different than buying a bungalow.

[sidthelamp]

i have also heard about making you upgrade every ten years, it hit the local news round here,agrees with red too, read the small print! planning laws! even if you own your own land and want to put a caravan on there, you can only live in it 28 days out of any 12 months

[Huddylion]

My first wife R.I.P lived on a site when I met her back in the early 80's she had an oldish van after her divorce, I moved in and it was a nightmare freezing in the winter like an oven in the summer, frozen pipes etc, had no problems about th time we lived in it as we lived in it all year round, ground rent etc wasn't bad then but this was like over 25 years ago.
My Aunt has one now different kettle of fish luxury all mod cons and still no trouble with how long it is occupied, she would prefer a house and wants to move neare to her kids and is having problems selling it.

I myself would never want to do it again.................

[BAGHAG999]

With park homes after buying one i beleive there is a monthly fee to pay and i think when you resell the park owners get a percentage of the sell.